More bird boxes in woodland areas should allow a high number of chicks to be produced this spring.

Eggs to benefit from local support this Easter

The support of local people will help ensure a bumper yield of eggs in Cornwall this Easter, according to researchers from the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campus, Penryn.

The support of local people will help ensure a bumper yield of eggs in Cornwall this Easter, according to researchers from the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campus, Penryn.

In March 2007, University biologists put out a call in the local press for landowners in Cornwall to provide space for bird boxes to help with a major research project. They had a massive response and put up 347 bird boxes in nine woodland sites. Now, two years later, having put out more than 150kg of bird food, the researchers are expecting a high number of chicks to be produced this spring.

The study, which is supported by the British Trust for Ornithology and the UK’s leading bird-care supplier Gardman, focuses on wild birds in Cornwall. The research team is hoping to find out how what we feed them affects their health. The project also aims to uncover the health benefits of a range of different foods and the team is looking closely at the effects of the antioxidants in bird-foods for the first time.

In 2008, the team counted 164 pairs of blue, coal and great tits nesting in the boxes and believe the numbers will be higher this year. Early analysis shows that eggs laid last year were of higher quality as a result of antioxidants in the food.

Kate Plummer, a PhD student on the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campus (know locally as Tremough) is working on the project. She said: “The birds seemed to rely more heavily on the supplemented food this year because of the colder and harsher conditions, with nearly twice the amount of food taken compared to the previous winter. Without the support of local people, which has been overwhelming, this research just wouldn’t be possible.”

Dr Nick Carter, Gardman’s Director Environment & Conservation, said “Gardman is really pleased to be involved in such a ground-breaking project and is eagerly anticipating the results from this year’s monitoring.”

When the research finishes next winter, the research team plans to publish its results in a major academic journal.

Date: 3 April 2009

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